NHS plc + Public services policy | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/society/series/nhs-plc+policy
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Wed, 04 Mar 2015 01:26:47 GMT2015-03-04T01:26:47Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
NHS service providers' financial positions are weak – at besthttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/20/nhs-service-providers-financial-positions
Ramsay Health Care, Virgin Care, Harmoni, The Practice, Circle and Care UK cannot be treated as going concerns without the financial support of their parent companies<br /><p>Analysis of the accounts of a number of NHS service providers reveals some disturbing trends.</p><p>It is estimated that 37 private healthcare companies bid for almost 400 NHS service contracts worth &pound;262m earlier in the year. The Guardian's analysis looked at six of the biggest companies with a particular emphasis on patient care: Ramsay Health Care, Virgin Care, Harmoni, The Practice, Circle and Care UK.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/20/nhs-service-providers-financial-positions">Continue reading...</a>NHSUK newsPrivatisationPoliticsBusinessHealthcare industryHealth policyPublic services policyHealthSocietyThu, 20 Dec 2012 07:00:09 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/20/nhs-service-providers-financial-positionsGraham Turner/GuardianCare UK staff at the North East London NHS treatment centre. Photograph: Graham Turner for the GuardianGraham Turner/GuardianCare UK staff at the North East London NHS treatment centre. Photograph: Graham Turner for the GuardianIan Griffiths2012-12-20T07:00:09ZPatient care at risk as GPs are asked to cut serviceshttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/19/patient-care-gps-cut-services
While ministers say costs are being reduced via 'efficiency savings', GPs are being asked to cut services to patients<p>GPs are being asked to reduce or axe activities including childhood immunisation campaigns, out-of-hours care and minor surgery in emerging evidence that &pound;20bn of NHS &quot;efficiency savings&quot; are leading to cuts in patient care.</p><p>Evidence of the cuts has appeared in the form of a letter to GPs in south London, in which health managers say they have to make &pound;2.32m savings in 2011-13, and list services that should be reduced or abolished this financial year.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/19/patient-care-gps-cut-services">Continue reading...</a>GPsHealthNHSDoctorsSocietyPublic sector cutsPublic services policyPublic financeUK newsPoliticsWed, 19 Dec 2012 12:42:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/19/patient-care-gps-cut-servicesRayArt Graphics/AlamyGPs in south London are being asked to reduce or axe activities as health managers say they have to make £2.32m of savings. Photograph: RayArt Graphics/AlamyRayArt Graphics/AlamyGPs in south London are being asked to reduce or axe activities as health managers say they have to make £2.32m of savings. Photograph: RayArt Graphics/AlamyJuliette Jowit, political correspondent2012-12-19T12:42:44ZNHS trusts are enmeshed in private provision – as buyers and suppliershttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/18/nhs-trusts-enmeshed-private-provision
FOI requests reveal NHS hospitals spending millions buying beds in private hospitals or profiting from patients who pay<p>NHS hospitals deal with private firms to buy and sell patient care and treatment services worth more than &pound;500m, creating a marketplace for commercial healthcare companies in the English health service, an analysis by the Guardian reveals.</p><p>Freedom of information requests to more than 100 NHS trusts revealed hospitals were spending millions of pounds buying beds in private hospitals, often to bring down long waiting lists. A review of these trusts' finances identified at least &pound;300m generated in hospital income from patients who pay. Many trusts admit they seek to profit from private patients and use the money to fund public healthcare.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/18/nhs-trusts-enmeshed-private-provision">Continue reading...</a>NHSHealthSocietyHealth policyPublic services policyPoliticsTue, 18 Dec 2012 23:00:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/18/nhs-trusts-enmeshed-private-provisionMartin GodwinThe Royal Marsden hospital in London attracted £51m from private patients last year, up £6m on the previous year and accounting for 23% of total patient income. Photograph: Martin GodwinMartin GodwinThe Royal Marsden hospital in London attracted £51m from private patients last year, up £6m on the previous year and accounting for 23% of total patient income. Photograph: Martin GodwinRandeep Ramesh, social affairs editor2012-12-18T23:00:12ZPrivate healthcare: the lessons from Swedenhttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/18/private-healthcare-lessons-from-sweden
The UK centre right has looked on enviously as Sweden has privatised much of its health service in recent years<p>On Kungsholmen, one of the islands on which the Swedish capital Stockholm is built, stands what some consider to be the future of National Health Service under David Cameron: St G&ouml;ran, a six-storey redbrick hospital that makes profits from the state by treating patients.</p><p>Emblazoned with the name of <a href="http://www.stgoran.se/in-english/" title="">its corporate manager, Capio</a> – rather than the Swedish state, which constructed it – the hospital has for a decade been the mascot of pro-market Scandinavian policies <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/sep/17/liberal-conservative-coalition-nickclegg" title="">that are widely admired by the coalition in Westminster</a>.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/18/private-healthcare-lessons-from-sweden">Continue reading...</a>NHSHealthSocietyUK newsSwedenEuropeWorld newsPrivatisationBusinessEconomic policyPoliticsPublic services policyTue, 18 Dec 2012 14:57:38 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/18/private-healthcare-lessons-from-swedenRob SchoenbaumSt Göran in Stockholm is Sweden's largest privately run hospital. Photograph: Rob SchoenbaumRob SchoenbaumSt Göran in Stockholm is Sweden's largest privately run hospital. Photograph: Rob SchoenbaumRandeep Ramesh in Stockholm2012-12-18T14:57:38Z